Roberto Firmino embodies Liverpool’s high-pressing game under Jurgen Klopp and Theo Walcott is leading the charge at Arsenal, but Jose Mourinhos Manchester
United have struggled to make the system work.
Champions
Jersey . We examine the high-intensity tactics powering the Premier
League’s elite… The origins of pressing in football are disputed, but Victor
Maslov certainly played his part. The Russian coach is credited with introducing
the revolutionary system during his time in charge of Dynamo Kyiv in the 1960s,
with the aim of restricting the oppositions time and space on the ball and
winning back possession in dangerous areas high up the pitch.Austrian manager
Ernst Happell used a similar approach as he guided Feyenoord to European Cup
glory in 1970, and pressing hit the international stage when Rinus Michels
Netherlands made Total Football famous at the 1974 World Cup. The Oranje hunted
the ball in packs, shutting down passing channels and snuffing out attacks
before they had started. Pressing worked and, as fitness and conditioning
improved in the decades that followed, it became increasingly prominent. The
tactic can be implemented in different ways and with varying degrees of
intensity, but the high-octane style developed by Maslov, Happell and Michels is
now the favoured method for the Premier Leagues elite.This season it has been
easy to see why. Manchester City won 10 consecutive games after Pep Guardiola
completely changed their approach without the ball, and the Premier League
leaders are closely followed in the table by Mauricio Pochettinos Tottenham, who
showcased their aggressive high-pressing at its most effective in last Sundays
2-0 win over City at White Hart Lane. Dele Alli scored Tottenhams second goal as
they overpowered Manchester City Elsewhere, the gegenpressing tactics Klopp
employed at Borussia Dortmund have taken hold at Liverpool, while Arsene Wenger
has notably increased the off-the-ball intensity at Arsenal. Those two sides
make up the rest of the top four and sit just two points off the top. They too
have enjoyed resounding victories over their rivals in recent
weeks.High-intensity pressing looks increasingly like a recipe for success in
the Premier League, and its an area in which sixth-placed Manchester United have
been found wanting this season. While City, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool all
rank highly for distance covered and sprints, United lag behind in more ways
than one. Most sprints - Premier League 2016/17 Rank Team Sprints 1st Liverpool
4165 2nd Man City 4014 3rd Tottenham 3755 4th Arsenal 3725 - - - 8th Man Utd
3524 Mourinhos men have covered the least ground of any Premier League side this
season, and while their rivals are working harder than ever without the ball,
United have been outrun by their opposition in six of their first seven Premier
League games. The exception, by no coincidence, was their 4-1 thrashing of
Leicester. Most distance covered - Premier League 2016/17 Rank Team Distance
covered (km) 1st Liverpool 814.8 2nd Man City 803.9 3rd Tottenham 803.4 - - -
7th Arsenal 780.9 - - - 20th Man Utd 735.6 Mourinho is aware of the need for
intensity and he described that performance as a template for how he wants
United to play. Today we had intensity, we had good movement, we were dynamic,
he said. We were much more aggressive and pressed higher. The team was quicker
to react when the ball was lost and we had lots of fast football. We played the
way we wanted to play. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ?6.99. No
contract. As well as good organisation and a strong team ethic, an effective
pressing system demands hard work and sacrifice from forward players. Uniteds
attackers could do a lot worse than look at Firmino for inspiration.The
Brazilian joined Liverpool after thriving in the furious tempo of the Bundesliga
with Hoffenheim, and his industry is perfect for the roving role of Klopps false
nine, something he describes as the most intense job on the pitch. Roberto
Firminos heat map from Liverpools 5-1 win over Hull shows how much territory he
covers in the opposition half Firmino is tasked with hounding defenders as soon
as Liverpool lose possession in the opposition half. It requires extraordinary
stamina, and it is no coincidence that he has sprinted more times than any of
his team-mates in three out of the five games in which he has completed 90
minutes this season. It is a continuation of last year, when he made more
tackles (67) than any other forward in the division.Klopp believes a
well-executed counter-pressing system can be more effective than any playmaker
when it comes to creating chances, so he treasures Firminos contribution. As
well as being a devoted worker, Firmino has the technical quality to capitalise
on turnovers and finish off scoring opportunities.Roberto is a player who is
always involved, in all offensive actions and all defensive actions, Klopp said
on Monday Night Football last month. He really likes doing things like this,
because its a natural skill that he knows. Its a nice opportunity to win the
ball and be close to the goal, thats why hes doing it. Jordan Henderson and
Roberto Firmino put Francis Coquelin under pressure He doesnt think too much,
hes an instinctive player thats really, really strong in these situations.
Roberto is in the centre because he has the physical ability to do it, but he
can play nearly all offensive positions, thats how it is.While pressing is
instinctive for Firmino, Uniteds attacking players are not the only ones having
to work on it. Walcotts career was threatening to pass him by after he was
overlooked for Englands Euro 2016 squad following an indifferent season with
Arsenal last year, but the 27-year-old has made a flying start to the new
campaign.I spoke to many people and it maybe woke up something in my system, he
said last month. I am completely different. I just want to be better and better.
People have had so much faith in me and I tend to think I need to repay people.
It maybe should have hit me a few years ago, but there has now been a slight
change in my attitude ahead of the games. Top tackler No forward has made more
tackles than Theo Walcott (14) in the Premier League this season. Five goals and
two assists from eight games is a handsome return, but its his off-the-ball work
which has caught the eye. Walcotts work-rate has increased dramatically. He has
made more tackles (14) in seven games than he managed in the whole of last
season, and he now looks at home alongside the industrious Alexis Sanchez, who
is fulfilling a similar role to Firmino at Liverpool. Theo Walcott was effective
at both ends of the pitch in Arsenals win over Chelsea For Arsenal, the benefits
of Walcotts improvement have been obvious. As well producing regular goals and
assists, a player who once drifted in and out of games is now harrying opponents
high up the pitch and diligently dropping back to provide cover for full-back
Hector Bellerin. As a result, Arsenal havent conceded a single goal from their
right flank in the last six Premier League games.I think he used to be 90 per
cent forward and 10 per cent defending, said Wenger after Arsenals 3-0 win over
Chelsea. Today he is 50-50. He does the job both ways and he does it both ways
with commitment.Walcott realised he needed defensive dedication as well as
attacking quality to fit into a modern, pressing system, and he is not the only
attacker from the Premier Leagues top four who ranks highly for tackles.
Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen close down Raheem Sterling Erik Lamela (13)
and Christian Eriksen (nine) have been prolific at Spurs, Raheem Sterling and
Nolito (both eight) lead the way at City, while Mane (12), Coutinho (nine),
Lallana (nine) and Firmino (seven) have clocked impressive numbers at
Liverpool.These are ultra-mobile modern forwards with the energy to fulfil
varying responsibilities, and its fitting that each of them has started the
season strongly. Stamina, work-rate and defensive dedication havent always been
fashionable attributes for attacking players, but they are more important than
ever now. Those failing to embrace the pressing game are in danger of being left
behind.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football
and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at
half price! Also See: VOTE: Liverpool v Man Utd top 50 Zonal or man-marking?
Would Griezmann suit Chelsea, Utd? The life out of contract
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Clemons spent his first five NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who selected
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PORTLAND, Ore. -- LaMarcus Aldridge wasnt even sure he was going to play against
the Clippers. Portlands top scorer and rebounder had his wisdom teeth removed on
Sunday. So on Thursday night he was still in some pain. Worse, he hadnt had much
to eat. But Aldridge came out and had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail
Blazers in a 116-112 overtime victory over the Clippers. "Ive had nothing but
soup for the last four days," he lamented. "So I was a little worried about my
energy levels." In the end, he didnt even have a turnover as the surprising
Blazers upped their record to an NBA-best 24-5. Portland has won seven of their
last eight games, and theyve dropped just two at home this season. The Clippers,
playing the second of a back-to-back, mounted a challenge after trailing by as
many as 11 points in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin had 35 points and 11
rebounds, while Chris Paul finished with 34 points and 16 assists. Aldridge hit
a fadeaway with 39 seconds left in overtime and Portland went ahead 110-109.
Griffin missed a layup on the other end before Nicolas Batum made a pair of free
throws to make it 112-109 with 26.5 seconds to go. After Griffin dunked to
narrow it again, Damian Lillard made two free throws for Portland. Portland
clung to a 114-112 lead with 13.4 seconds left and padded it with Wesley
Matthews foul shots. Paul missed a 3-point attempt as time ran out. Aldridge
scored all of Portlands field goals in overtime, and finished with his ninth
game this season with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, second only to
Minnesotas Kevin Love. As for his teeth? "Its a little bit throbbing," he
shrugged. It was the second of back-to-back losses for the Clippers. Earlier
Thursday, the NBA said its referees made a mistake when they ejected Griffin in
the teams 105-103 loss to the Warriors on Wednesday night. Griffin got his
second technical with 10:43 left after scuffling with Andrew Bogut, following
Warriors forward Draymond Green to the showers after they got into it at the end
of the third. "A common foul should have been called on Griffin for initially
attempting to dislodge the Warriors Andrew Bogut and a technical foul should
have been assessed to Bogutt for grabbing Griffin by the shirt and wrestling
with him," Rod Thorn, the NBAs president of basketball operations, said in a
statement.
Willian
Jersey. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he thought Griffin handled the
situation well. "Everyone is a target at some point in their career," Rivers
said. "You just have to play through it." It was the second ejection for the
Clippers in as many games. Forward Matt Barnes was ejected with 56 seconds left
in the third quarter of a 120-116 OT win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on
Sunday night. Barnes fouled Love. "Its a long season. Were in a bad ejection rut
right now," Rivers said. "Well get out of it." No one got tossed on Thursday. Mo
Williams made back-to-back 3s to give Portland a 34-22 in the first half. The
Clippers responded with a 9-0 run to close to 34-31, but Aldridge scored six
straight points in an 8-2 run and Portland stretched the margin to 42-33. Pauls
3-pointer closed the Clippers to within 47-46 at the intermission. Dorell Wright
hit a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers an 84-75 lead early in the fourth quarter.
But the Clippers clawed back in, and Pauls pull-up jumper made it 97-96 for Los
Angeles first lead of the second half. After Aldridges tip-in, Paul added
another jumper to give the Clippers a 99-98 lead then nailed a step-back
21-footer from the corner with 9.3 seconds left. Undaunted, Batum hit a
3-pointer to tie it at 101 with 5.3 seconds to go. Paul missed a 17-footer to
send the game into overtime. "I got right where I wanted to -- I probably
tricked myself too much, I dont even know if they had a foul to give," Paul
said. "And with five seconds left I think I went a little too quick because I
thought they were going to try and use one of their fouls. I didnt think I would
end up as wide open as I was -- Ive got to make that shot. " Notes: The game was
the first of three meetings between the two teams this season. The Clippers
claimed last seasons series 3-1. ... The Clippers 14 first-quarter points are
the fewest theyve scored in the first quarter. ... DeAndre Jordan finished with
19 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. ... Barnes also fouled out in OT.
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